Steam-trap



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. A. SULZMAN. STEAM TRAP,

No. 444,214. Patented Jan. 6,1891.

M6 @KW MJQ/ W (No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 3.

U. A. SULZMAN.

STEAM TRAP.

No. 444,214. i Patented Jan. 6, 1891 V llwjg'jgnwy WIT/VESSES: v

MZM $144M?- B Q (UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SULZMAN, OF VATERFORD, NEW YORK.

STEAM-T RAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,214, dated January 6, 1891. Application filed May 27, 1889. Serial No. 312,250. (No model.)

f 0 all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. SULZMAN, a resident of Waterford, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in steam-traps; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a central vertical section taken on the broken line 1 1 in Fig. 2, showing the live-steam connections and the controlling-spring in elevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the threechambered cylinder detached. Fig. 4isa central longitudinal section of the same, taken on the broken line 4 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the chambered cylinder and valve-case, taken on the broken line 5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a View similar to that shown in Fig. 5, taken on the broken line 6 6 in Fig. 2.

A A are two tanks or reservoirs, each supported by a steam-pipe A and a water-pipe A by which they are connected with a valvecase B. The valve-case is in turn supported by a three-chambered cylinder 0, upon which it is fitted to rock and open and close ports between the cylinder-chambers and the valvecase chambers. One of the end chambers R in the cylinder is adapted to receive the water of condensation through pipe R, screwed therein, and the other end chamber D to receive from the tanks and discharge such water to the boiler, located upon a lower level, and not shown, through discharge-pipe D screwed therein. The central cylinder-chamber S is a steam-chamber adapted to receive live steam direct from the boiler through steam-pipe S. (Shown broken away in Fig. 1.) The valvecase is provided with four chambers, two on each sidenamely, the water-chamber B, connected with tank A at its lower end by a water-pipe A and the steamohamber B connected with the tank A at its upper end by a steam-pipe A and on the other side a similar water-chamber B and steam-chamber 13 connected in similar manner with tank A, as shown in Fig. 2.

The contiguous portions of the cylindershell and the valve-case are provided with ports connecting the several chambers, as follows: Ports 0 and 0 connect chambers D and B, and are shown open in Fig. 5, as well as inthe other figures. Ports C and C (also shown open) connect chambers R and B Ports C and 0 (shown closed) when open connect chambers D and B and ports 0 and C (shown closed) when open connect chambers R and B. Ports 0 and 0 (shown open) conneot chambers S and B and ports 0 and C (shown closed) when open connect chambers S and B. The top of the valve-case may be cast integral with the case or in a separate detachable plat-e, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The cylinder is supportedin a fixed position, as by its end pipes and steam-pipe S, and the valve-case is secured to the cylinder by end clips B passing around the cylinder and secured to the case, as by screws B. The cylinder is also provided with a small groove O in its periphery, extending part way only around the cylinder between the ports C and C and in line therewith, and consequently in line with the ports 0 and C and adapted to alternately communicate with each. The case is also provided with a duct or passageway leading from the groove in the cylinder through the partition to the atmosphere, as shown in Fig. 1. It will thus be seen that when the ports 0 and C are open port 0 is closed to the groove 0 and open to C and when the valve-case rocks sufiiciently to open ports 0 and C the port- 0 is closed to the groove and port 0 open to it and closed to port C", thereby affording an-atmospheric vent for the tanks through the steam-pipes A when such pipes are out off from communication with the steam-pipe S leading to the boiler.

The rocking movements of the tanks and valve-case are controlled by the weight of the tanks and .contents and the spring D having the hooked ends D, and secured to a fixed support D as by screws D The hooks are adapted to engage with the inclined ledges A on the outer sides of the tanks. When preferred, a weight \V (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1) may be employed in place of the spring to assist in controlling the rocking movements.

The operation of the device is as follows: As seen in Fig. 1, the tanks are about half-full of water, as indicated by the dotted lines A, the lower tank A is being discharged, and the upper tank A is being filled by the water of condensation, which enters by gravity from a higher level (not shown) or by pressure through pipe R, chamber R, open ports and C chamber B and pipe A, the steamports 0 and C and discharge-ports (J and 0 being closed, and the air inclosed within the tank escaping through the pipe A chamber B", port C groove 0, and duct 0'. Meanwhile the water in the lower tank has been discharged by gravity to the boiler on a lower level through pipe A chamber B, ports (J and C, chamber D, and pipe D, live steam from the boiler to equalize the pressure having been admitted through pipe A chamber B ports Cand C chambers, and steanrpipe S, the water in the lower part of the tank being forced out on the principle of the siphon. The resilient force of the spring D is so graduated that when the upper tan k is filled o r nearly filled and the lower one emptied the weight of the filled tank overcomes such force and the hookedend Dslips olt the inclined ledge A whereupon the filled tank falls with suffioient force upon the other end of the spring to push its ledge A beneath the hook, securing the tank A in a position similar to the position of A, as shown in the drawings, the latter tank assuming the elevated position previously occupied by the other tank. It is obvious, also, that such a movement of thetanks and valve-case opens the ports which were previously closed and closes those which were previously open. Steam is therefore admitted to the filled tank, which establishes a balanced boiler-pressure therein, and the top of the tank being on a higher level than the highest part of the discharge-pipe A the water commences to flow from the tank to the boiler by force of gravity alone, which flow is continued by atmospheric pressure on well-known siphonic principles until the tank is emptied or until it is released from the spring by the weight of the other tank, which has meanwhile been filling with water of condensation through pipe R, chamber R, ports C"- and C chamber B, and pipe A steam-ports C and 0 and discharge-ports O and 0 being closed and port 0 being open through groove C and duct 0 to the atmosphere. A rocking movement of the valveease is thus automatically maintained to operate the various ports and cause the water of condensation to flow by gravity back into the boiler.

It will be observed that no hinged or drop valves are employed, the ports all being closed by slide-valves, which are not likely to get out of order, and are not only durable, but can be easily and cheaply constructed.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a steam-trap, a fixed cylinder having a water-receivingchamber and eduction-ports at one end, a water-receiving chamber and induction-ports at the other end, and a central steamchamber and eduction-ports, in combination with a water-supply pipe, a water-discharge pipe, a steam-supply pipe, a valve-case having one side concaved to fit such cylinder,substantially as described,and provided with water and steam chambers and ports leading therefrom adapted to alternately register with the cylinder-ports, substantially as described, two oppositely-located water-tanks supported by the valvecase, a steam-pipe connecting the upper end of each tank with a steam-chamber in the valve-case, a water-pipe connecting the lower end of each tank with a water-chamber in the valve-ease, and means for controlling the rocking movements of the valve-case, as spring D and engaging ledges A upon the tanks, substantially as described.

2. In a water-trap having a pair of oppositely-located water-tanks supported by a valvecase adapted to rock upon a chambered cylinder, each connected with the case by a live steam pipe. valved air-vents consisting of a duct 0 in the valve-case leading to a groove 0 in the periphery of the cylinder, valved ports C and C adapted to alternately register with such groove, and steampipe A substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ha e hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May, 1889.

CHARLES A. SULZMAN. Witnesses:

GEO. A. Mosnnn, CHAS. .h. ALDEN. 

